Compromise...I know it is verboten round these parts to speak of thee

[nadinbrzezinski]

But here is the thing, a working political system in the US requires it.

Now there was mandate. This is basically for three things, where there is no room for it.

1.- Social Security/ Medicate...they have to be protected, if not out right strengthen.

2.- Taxes on the rich are on the table now, sorry Mitch.

3- believe it or not women's rights and immigration reform are part of it.

But it is time people get it...you want a functional Congress? The C word is not a four letter word. We do not live in a parliamentary system, we just don't. If you want to blame anybody for it, look at the who's who of the drafters of the Constitution. Do we probably need to change it? Yes, but a functioning government still requires that four letter word. Even one running under Parliamentary rules.

Oh and please stop it as to conservatives never having ideas, Obamacare had it's humble beginnings at the Heritage foundation and was first implemented by one version of Romney.

I disagree with a lot of what they believe in, and the loons have taken over the asylum, but damn it people, republicans are not less than human. Nor are they evil incarnate...that road leads to a very dark place where real people actually die.

Sore winners are just as annoying as sore losers and help nobody.

Oh and given the reaction to this recognition of their humanity before the election, I hope there is more civility now, though don't expect it.

[leftstreet]

1. WTF are you talking about: 'women's rights' are part of it?

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. The vote repudiated their ideas on women

As retrograde as they are...even Rush got it.

[leftstreet]

6. Lowest voter turnout since 2004, maybe even lower

The 'vote' repudiated nothing

Obama has gazillions more brand recognition than Romney. Of course he'd win a 2nd term

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. You work for CNN ?

Anybody sophisticated in electoral politics sees this for what it was, a mandate.

[leftstreet]

23. Are you familiar with Google? n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. Yep, I am also familiar with the ignore list

Good bye.

[leftstreet]

26. Wait !! Before you do....

If Obama and the Democrats have a mandate, why are you saying they need to compromise with anyone?

[stevenleser]

43. This is a real question? You cant figure this one out for yourself?

Wow.

[HiPointDem]

87. +100

[zonkers]

29. Your claim is unprovable.

Name recognition was a single factor that could have cut either way.

[MNBrewer]

51. Not in MN it wasn't.

[geardaddy]

98. This ^

Higher than 2008 and highest in the US at ~76%

[WinkyDink]

91. Oh, so the election was a GIVEN! Then Romney must be colossally STUPID for being SHOCKED! Bwahahaha!

[forestpath]

7. I don't listen to his show. Has he apologized for calling Sandra Fluke a slut?

No? Didn't think so.

[nadinbrzezinski]

12. It s the tone he took

He got it, even if for five seconds.

[ljm2002]

53. He "got it" in his usual insulting way...

...like, he said "so do we have to start passing out birth control on the street corners?" or something to that effect. In other words he stated it so that instead of describing any sane policy changes they might want to consider, he described a twisted version of how they would have to change, thus allowing that position to be rejected out of hand.

He got nothing.

[nadinbrzezinski]

54. Ok...

[yardwork]

42. Rush got nothing.

[nadinbrzezinski]

44. For twenty hours or so

He's gone back, don't fear

[Matariki]

5. I took that as meaning women's rights are one of the three things NOT open for compromise

according to the OP

[leftstreet]

9. yeah, I get that now

Op just made little sense, asserting compromise then repudiating it. Whatever

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. Yup...the things not on the table

After that, they will have to

[SickOfTheOnePct]

2. Thank you for saying this

All true and needed to be said.

[randome]

3. "Sore winners are just as annoying as sore losers". I like that.

There will be a TRUE mandate when the people of this country vote in a functional House of Representatives. Maybe 2014?

Until then, there is still no choice but to get what progress we can. And if that means compromise, so be it. It does not have to mean gutting social programs, though.

[RepublicansRZombies]

49. Where are the sore winners? Republicans still think they are in charge

We need to tell them to shut the fuck up.

We don't have to let the House control US, we need to take the message to the masses so that the American people at large make the demands to the point they have to listen.

Twitter and other social media won this election- WE HAVE the POWER now!

[Cleita]

8. I believe there is a difference between compromise and capitulation.

Often the opposition wants capitulation not compromise. It doesn't matter which side does it because they both do. I never cared for the Affordable Care Act. It will prove to be too expensive in the long run and will still allow the parasitic insurance companies to feed at the government trough. However, I do applaud the fact that now most people will be able to see a doctor and get treatment when they need it, and if it's their time to die, they will die with professional care making their passage as pain free as possible. It will also ease the pain and stress of the caregivers. I'm certain in time we will look at the costs of allowing the insurance companies to be involved in basic health care and will move to a Medicare system that is the most cost effective and comprehensive way of doing health care. In the meantime people will be taken care of so I guess there was a compromise of sorts there.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. Why I said, loons have taken over the asylum.

[quinnox]

10. when I hear pro-compromisers talk on DU

It makes me want to ask, "So how much are you willing to cut social security/medicare/food stamps/ etc?"

My answer is zero.

[nadinbrzezinski]

15. Re-read it

There s a mandate, a strong mandate, not to touch those programs.

[quinnox]

22. I meant in general,

I understand you are saying not to compromise on those. But often lately here on DU, I get the feeling that "compromise" is code for "Yes, I'm willing to cut the funds for these critical social programs to a certain degree" but they won't out and out say it, for various reasons.

[nadinbrzezinski]

31. I know, that is why we are so out of practice

That the political class on the other side confuses compromise for capitulation, and our side confuses it with starting at fifty percent of what the other side wants, and going from there. We haven't had a functional government for a generation or so.

[Whisp]

11. C word, 4 letter word? what the hell? Congress. Compromise is not 4 letters. Conservative?

Am I missing something?

Yes, but a functioning government still requires that four letter word.

what in royal heck are you talking about?

And I disagree with you that republicans are not evil incarnate. Some of them in power freaking are. What could be more fricken evil than deny people healthcare, and jobs and veterans support but fight to finish for rich people to get tax cuts. If that isn't evil I don't know what is.

jayzus.

[RepublicansRZombies]

45. and they brazenly lie and manipulate to loot, kill and ruin people's lives

After lying and wasting trillions killing millions of people overseas, they say we are broke and want to cut off people's retirement they paid into their entire working lives, and the very health care that is keeping them alive.

If that isn't evil, I don't know what is.

[Whisp]

61. exactly! o my gawd.

I'm not saying the regular low information voter is evil, but sure as hell there is a crop of them in the ruling and political class that are.

as evil as you can get.

[Still Sensible]

14. Well said, but

it only happens if the other side is wiling. If all the compromise comes from our winning side, a lot of people will rightly be mad as hell.

On the "fiscal cliff" negotiations, for example, if the starting point is the last offer the administration made before the extension was agreed to (the offer Woodward reported over the weekend), that would be a travesty.

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Agreed, that be a violation of that mandate

And people better get ready to march.

[HopeHoops]

18. K&R - good post.

[Zorra]

20. What exactly are the things that republicans believe in do you agree with?

You said:

"I disagree with a lot of what they believe in"

So what things do you agree with them on?

[nadinbrzezinski]

27. That we are Americans and we both care for the country

I cannot ascribe to them that they are evil to no end moniker.

I truly disagree in their solutions, but they are not pushing them out of hate of country. (And in more than a few cases they are truly scared since they are losing that mythical world that never existed, but that is grist for another discussion)

You are free to do such and cross that dark bridge. I WILL NOT FOLLOW.

[Zorra]

33. The only dark bridge I see is the charred bridge of republicans ideas

that we just burned behind us in the last election.

We've already crossed that bridge. No reason to go back. Forward, no reason to regress.

I've been fighting against republican/conservative evil my entire life from, Nixon, through Reagan, and on to G W Bush. You can sympathize with them if you like, but I will never trust a republican, and have seen enough fruits of their wonderful ideas...



and I know better than to trust them.

Yes, they are human. KKK members are human also. We need to remain vigilant and prevent them from doing harm to the best of our ability, because given even the slightest chance, they will cause as much harm as they possibly can, as quickly as they can.

[nadinbrzezinski]

38. You are free to do that

Sayonara...have fun on that side of the road.

[RepublicansRZombies]

47. WTF! "I truly disagree in their solutions, but they are not pushing them out of hate of country."

Solutions?

They started wars resulting in the murder of millions of innocents, leaving Depleted Uranium to kill and maim children for years to come.

They started Big Government programs to crack down on dissenters, to push their fascism on us with no opposition.

They blamed all this spending on Democrats, now they want to steal our social safety net, which will definitely result in the deaths of millions more Americans.

They not only hate US, they are definitely trying to destroy the country.

There just happen to be ancestors of actual Nazis running this country, and I think they are still pissed about WWII.

[nadinbrzezinski]

48. That is where we fully disagree

They don't hate the country, or both sides do...since they pull the same crap.

They really don't. They just have different ideas of what forwards means.

We all need to get off this dangerous way of thinking, and I mean that for conservatives as well.

The disagreements are really deep, in some cases deep chasms leading to really dark holes...but to claim somebody hates the country because they don't agree with you is misguided. Not just that, it is dangerous.

I realize this is hard to comprehend for partisans on both sides, and yes, they started this shitty way of thinking. It matters little, it is simply not healthy.

[RepublicansRZombies]

55. You think they are attempting to move the country forward?

You think they have intentions to benefit America and Americans?

You can't be serious. Have you ever listened to their leaders? They are brazenly lying. They are not just ignorant.

They are purposely lying to brainwash people into helping them destroy the country.

I listen to Limbaugh,Beck and their minions- they are clearly NOT trying to move the country forward.

I just cannot imagine how you could think that.

[nadinbrzezinski]

58. In their mind they are

We might, in fact do, disagree with their remedies, but they are not enemies, nor do they want to destroy the country.

Seriously, we need to stop this other ism...you share the country, they, and you, are going nowhere.

[RepublicansRZombies]

62. I would believe they cared, if they had ANY ideas to move us forward

And there is no way in Limbaugh's 'mind' that he thinks he is helping the country.

He KNOWS what he is doing and he is doing it on purpose.

How naive could you be?

[nadinbrzezinski]

64. That s your problem

Yes, even Limbaugh loves HIS country. I disagree with El Rushbo, but serious, he believes, just as you do, that his policy ideas will help the common man. A lot of it s myth based, and I disagree, but seriously, he does not hate the country.

Now I wish he got an epiphany and stopped the libtard language, it would help to humanize us...the fact I don't expect t from him does not mean I ave to deny he actually loves the country.

There is more, I disagree with him, consider his speech hate speech, but it is still protected speech. Oh and he is losing ratings. When they toss him, he'll be a poor broken man....he just loves the influence he has. (And it s actually going down, if not starting to crash)

[RepublicansRZombies]

69. What proof do you have that Limbaugh loves the country? (gag)

I use to be naive and believe that people were mostly good and did things for the right reason.

Then the Bush Administration came along and I had to wake up and grow up real fast.

There are definitely evil forces at work in this country, organized and very effective.

[nadinbrzezinski]

70. What proof do you have he does not?

You are doing exactly what he does, congrats. You are ascribing qualities that make him less than human. Sorry if I won't join you in that very dangerous path. You go on.

[Zoeisright]

79. How about this?

"I hope Obama fails"

“You know who deserves a posthumous Medal of Honor? James Earl Ray [the confessed assassin of Martin Luther King]. We miss you, James. Godspeed.”

“Take that bone out of your nose and call me back.” to an African-American caller.


"Rush Limbaugh"
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See Also:
• Dumbest Rush Limbaugh Quotes Ever
• Right-Wing Nutjob Quote-O-Matic
• Dumbest GOP Campaign Quotes

"We've arrived at a point where the President of the United States is going to lead a war on traditional marriage." –Rush Limbaugh, on President Obama's endorsement of gay marriage. Limbaugh's first, second, third, and fourth wives could not be reached for comment. (May 9, 2012)

"Now, how can I be anti-woman? I even judged the Miss America pageant." -Rush Limbaugh, March 14, 2012

"What does it say about the college co-ed [Sandra] Fluke who goes before a congressional committee and essentially says that she must be paid to have sex -- what does that make her? It makes her a slut, right? It makes her a prostitute. She wants to be paid to have sex. She's having so much sex she can't afford the contraception. She wants you and me and the taxpayers to pay her to have sex." -Rush Limbaugh, referring to a Georgetown Law School student who was denied the right to speak at a congressional hearing on contraception, in which she planned to discuss a friend of hers who needed contraception to prevent the growth of cysts, February 29, 2012

"A Georgetown coed told Nancy Pelosi's hearing that the women in her law school program are having so much sex they're going broke, so you and I should have to pay for their birth control. So what would you call that? I called it what it is. So, I'm offering a compromise today: I will buy all of the women at Georgetown University as much aspirin to put between their knees as they want. ... So Miss Fluke and the rest of you feminazis, here's the deal. If we are going to pay for your contraceptives and thus pay for you to have sex, we want something. We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch." -Rush Limbaugh, March 1, 2012

"It doesn't look like Michelle Obama follows her own nutritionary dietary advice. And then we hear that she's out eating ribs at 1500 calories a serving with 141 grams of fat ... No, I'm trying to say that our first lady does not project the image of women that you might see on the cover of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue or of a woman Alex Rodriguez might date every six months or what have you." –Rush Limbaugh, Feb. 21, 2011

"These were highly civil comments for crying out loud. I mean, people are going nuts. USA Today, the Politico. And some people were suggesting that my comments were below the belt. Well, take a look at some pictures. Given where she wears her belts. I mean, she wears them high up there around the bust line. Isn't just about everything about her below the belt when you look at the fashion sense she has?" –Rush Limbaugh, after being criticized for making derogatory comments about First Lady Michelle Obama's weight, Feb. 22, 2011

"What Mr. Loughner knows is that he has the full support of a major political party in this country . . . he knows that . . . the Democrat party is attempting to find anybody but him to blame. He knows if he plays his cards right, he's just a victim. . . . This guy clearly understands he’s getting all the attention and he understands he's got a political party doing everything it can, plus a local sheriff doing everything that they can to make sure he's not convicted of murder –- but something lesser." --Rush Limbaugh on Arizona shooter Jared Loughner, Jan. 11, 2011

"As far as the media's concerned, Mrs. Obama deserves this. Look at the sordid past. Look at our slave past, look at the discriminatory past. It's only fair that people of color get their taste of the wealth of America too." --Rush Limbaugh, claiming the media is allowing Michelle Obama to take a vacation as a form of reparations for "our slave past," Aug. 6, 2010

"That cracker made a lot of African-American millionaires." --Rush Limbaugh, on the death of longtime New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, July 13, 2010

"[Obama] wouldn't have been voted president if he weren't black. Somebody asked me over the weekend why does somebody earn a lot of money have a lot of money, because she's black. It was Oprah. No, it can't be. Yes, it is. There’s a lot of guilt out there, show we're not racists, we'll make this person wealthy and big and famous and so forth.... If Obama weren't black he'd be a tour guide in Honolulu or he'd be teaching Saul Alinsky constitutional law or lecturing on it in Chicago." --Rush Limbaugh, July 6, 2010

"When do we ask the Sierra Club to pick up the tab for this leak?" --Rush Limbaugh, blaming the oil spill in the Gulf on the Sierra Club, arguing that the environmental group had driven oil producers off the land to more high-risk situations offshore, Rush Limbaugh, May 17, 2010

"The ocean will take care of this on its own if it was left alone and left out there. It's natural. It's as natural as the ocean water is." --Rush Limbaugh, on the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, May 3, 2010

"The only way to reduce the number of nuclear weapons is to use them."

"There are more acres of forestland in America today than when Columbus discovered the continent in 1492."

"She sounds like a screeching ex-wife." --Rush Limbaugh, on Sen. Hillary Clinton

"This is no different than what happens at the Skull and Bones initiation...I'm talking about people having a good time, these people, you ever heard of emotional release? You ever heard of the need to blow some steam off?" --Rush Limbaugh, on the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal

"Obama's got a health care logo that's right out of Adolf Hitler's playbook ... Adolf Hitler, like Barack Obama, also ruled by dictate."

"Guess what? Faisal Shahzad is a registered Democrat. I wonder if his SUV had an Obama sticker on it." --Rush Limbaugh, lying about the failed Times Square car bomber, who is not registered to vote, May 4, 2010

"What better way to head off more oil drilling, nuclear plants, than by blowing up a rig? I'm just noting the timing, here." --Rush Limbaugh, suggesting that "environmentalist whackos" deliberately blew up the oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico that created one of the biggest environmental disasters in U.S. history to stop offshore oil drilling, April 29, 2010

"Our political correct society is acting like some giant insult's taken place by calling a bunch of people who are retards, retards...There's going to be a retard summit at the White House."

Calling Chelsea Clinton "the White House Dog".

"Have you ever noticed how all composite pictures of wanted criminals resemble Jesse Jackson?"

"[Obama] wouldn't have been voted president if he weren't black. Somebody asked me over the weekend why does somebody earn a lot of money have a lot of money, because she's black. It was Oprah. No, it can't be. Yes, it is. There’s a lot of guilt out there, show we're not racists, we'll make this person wealthy and big and famous and so forth.... If Obama weren't black he'd be a tour guide in Honolulu or he'd be teaching Saul Alinsky constitutional law or lecturing on it in Chicago."

Calling Sandra Fluke a slut and a prostitute.

"Feminism was established so as to allow unattractive women easier access to the mainstream of society."

"Look, let me put it to you this way, the NFL all too often looks like a game between the Bloods and the Crips without any weapons. There, I said it."

"If we're going to pay for your contraceptives and thus pay for you to have sex, we want something for it. We want you to post the videos online so we can all watch."

If you think anyone who says those things loves this country, you are deluded.

[nadinbrzezinski]

86. He is a liar

That is not in dispute...what s in dispute is this contention of yours that he hates the United States.

He is craven in his lying...he is a propagandist. But you know what? He wants the best as well. His route to it is not precisely one I would chose...

But go ahead create that enemy. (For the record Rush does it as well, so you are even). Lord knows Rush does this regularly.

For the record, rush is also a bully...bullies need to be confronted, but dehumanizing such bullies s playing into their games.

I guess this is partly understanding language and semantics.

[GoneOffShore]

82. Go back and read Al Franken's "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them"

Written before he went to Congress.

It's a catalog of evil deeds and evil ideas put forth by evil people: Limbaugh, Coulter, et al. And it's well documented.

So, you go on.

[nadinbrzezinski]

88. Read the book

Where exactly did Al contend that Rush hates the United States?

He called Rush a CRAVEN LIAR, that is and has never been in contention. What is in contention is this incredible denial, as much as I despise Rush for his methods, that he actually has love of country.

The way he wants to go about it I abhor. But I will not claim he is evil, or less than human.

Just because rush does it, does not mean you have to join him in claiming that does you do not agree with...lack love of country.

For the record, rush is not a man who will compromise, but that is because in his mind you are less than human.

[GoneOffShore]

92. I'm pretty sure that Rush is hardly human.

In the sense that he has not any compassion or self knowledge and has a hatred for everything. Makes him, and many like him, barely human. Not that I would consider treating him like a goat or a sheep or cow, but rather like something to watch very, very carefully. And to keep contained.

He reminds me of Baron Harkonnen in "Dune" - all appetite and no mercy.

[nadinbrzezinski]

96. Don't worry, they think that about you.

[Zoeisright]

74. They do NOT "care for this country".

They want to go back to a time when many people were oppressed and discriminated against. They do NOT love the America that currently exists. And what, exactly, are repuke ideas that you would like to see us compromise on? Especially when they swore they would ruin the country (that they "love", no less) just to get President Obama out of office.

They are evil. And no one is going to make me change my opinion on that.

[nadinbrzezinski]

76. Sorry if I will not join you in the creation of the other

You go right ahead...on the bright side, their cartoons of democrats are just as divorced from reality.

[Zoeisright]

83. Listen, lady, you do NOT know me.

And you have not learned a single thing from the last twelve years. If anyone thinks it's possible to compromise with repukes, they are completely divorced from reality. I do not need to read your posts any more. Good bye.

[GoneOffShore]

85. Ah, don't put her on ignore.

You miss all the good bits.

[zappaman]

113. +1

Her threads are always....entertaining.
And suffice it to say, never informative.

[GoneOffShore]

114. Snork!!

Agreed.

Sometimes it's like a salad spinner.

[nadinbrzezinski]

90. Goody.

That way we don't need to read political reality...like fox nooz viewers I guess.

[msongs]

21. caving in and selling out, betraying your electorate, that is not compromise nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. Re-read slowly that post.

There are three ( actually four) that are truly not up for negotiation.

[Egalitarian Thug]

30. You've got it completely wrong.

This election, 2010, 2008, and 2006 were mandates, not for compromise, but for bold action. You ignore what is said and assume that compromise consists entirely of how much less we should get, rather than how much more we deserve.

Perhaps it is because we have gone further and further in the wrong direction that the idea of making things better doesn't even occur to you anymore, but the nation has demanded it for four cycles in a row now.

[nadinbrzezinski]

32. So you are blaming me for the actions of the political class?

And you are also telling me compromise is not part of how the American system of government works?

I can't blame you, it as not worked as designed (thanks Newt) for close to a generation.

[Egalitarian Thug]

34. I'm blaming you for furthering an error perpetuated by others, specifically the ruling class.

We don't even expect half a loaf any longer and are told by our own leaders that we should be grateful for crumbs. In our binary system the only way to change is to select the other one.

It has not worked for at least three generations, but is working exactly as designed.

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. Perpetuating what?

That compromise is implied into the foundational documents of the United States? I did not realize history was a myth, thanks for the clarification.

[Egalitarian Thug]

66. That compromise consists entirely of one side compromising its principles in deference

to the other whose ideas have never once succeeded.

We won. We are the side that gets to insist on everything being our way and perhaps we might consider some small token if they give us 98% of what we demand. Or does that only work if you want to eviscerate the people that comprise this nation?

[nadinbrzezinski]

68. Damn man I am talking history

You go on, dehumanized your fellow Americans, I won't, even if I know a loud part of the republican far right base is. They see you the same way you see them

And we won, read the list I posted, that is the mandate...are you having problems reading? The vote did not include two more years of nothing gets done because the two year olds are stamping feet. (Now on both sides)

[Egalitarian Thug]

110. That's exactly what it did. How many times do you have to be beaten over the head and robbed by

your neighbor before you finally figure out that your neighbor is a thief? Apparently at least once more since you seem to advocate giving him your money in the hope of what, his deciding that stealing isn't going to work out for him?

They have seen us, including you, as subhuman for decades. Giving in does not work, it hasn't yet and there is no rational reason to expect that it will now.

Your post smacks of more capitulation in the name of bipartisanship. What, you looking for another wallop on the head?

[nadinbrzezinski]

111. I am willing to bet I am way to the left of you

But thankfully, I do not live in a partisan bubble.

You'll see..

Have a good looonnnngggg day.

[Egalitarian Thug]

112. Happy to take that bet, what will you wager? n/t

[JustAnotherGen]

35. Add a fourth

Not rolling back what my father, his generation, my grandparents, and great grandparents fought for - Black Americans being identified as full human beings and their voting rights and civil liberties and you've got me.

Leave us off the table - and they can go straight to hell. I will not be pushed out of my home or job because I have black skin and be made to sit at the back of the bus or clean Sarah Alaskastans home. She can clean her home god damned house and breast feed her own children.


And if you think those 'dog whistles' specifically targeting blacks were not heard in this election - then I don't know what to tell you.

Add - Turning America back to 1953 for Black Americans is off the table and I'm game.

I will not sit idly by after having been 'Othered' since 1979 and kiss the cheeks of the white conservative men who did that to me. I will not. No goal. Ain't happening.

And our history here is different than that of Latinos and European immigrants. It simply is. Rolling us into Latinos (the target of the vile immigration dog whistles the past few election cycles) is a smack in their face and ours.

Add that - and I can agree with everything you've written.

[nadinbrzezinski]

37. Thank you

I think those were also part of the mandate.

We might want to put women's rights, minority rights and a few others under the rubric of civil rights...

They are not up for negotiation, period.

[Nye Bevan]

39. Given the Republican House, Obama will spend at least the next two years compromising.

That's just how the system works.

[stevenleser]

46. Exactly, this is not hard.

In many of their districts, Republican congressfolk are rewarded for being obstructionists to a Democratic President.

While I agree we hammer them if they are going to do that, some sort of compromise is going to be required. Doesnt mean it should be SS, Medicare or Medicaid, but both sides are going to have to give something.

[BlueStreak]

40. Compromise is required. The issue is FAIR compromise. What does that look like?

Last edited Mon Nov 12, 2012, 03:52 PM - Edit history (2)

A FAIR compromise reflects the will of the people. We have a very clear understanding of the will of the people because this election was cast as a clear referendum on the direction Obama has taken the past 4 years and the very different economic and social policies Romney and the other Republican candidates represented.

The President won in a huge landslide -- a very clear mandate. While the popular vote was close, that was mainly a function of Citizen's United forcing Obama to limit campaigning to a minority of states. Without C.U. the popular vote would have been as one-sided as the electoral vote was.

The Senate, despite all predictions from earlier in 2012, went overwhelmingly for Democrats. Democrats added 2 seats when they were expected to lose at least 5. Again, that is a clear-cut mandate in the Senate.

In the House, we picked up a fair number of seats, but did not take control of the body. Decades of redistricting have created a situation where 2/3 of the districts are no longer contested, so we didn't have the opportunity for such a clear-cut mandate in those races, but clearly the movement is in our direction and therefore any compromises must reflect that reality.

So here is a simple way we will know if Obama is making a FAIR compromises or if he is selling us out. Any compromise bill passed in the Senate must have at least 90% support of the Democratic Senators, and we'd hope to bring a significant number of GOP Senators on board. If McConnell decides to keep obstructing then screw it. No compromise. We put all of our attention to get him out of office in 2014.

Likewise in the House, any compromise legislation must have at least 90% of the House Democrats on board. And again we'd hope to bring on 100 GOP Representatives. That's about 170 Democrats and ~100 Republicans. That means that Boehner must be willing to pass legislation without the teabaggers in his caucus. If that doesn't happen, there should be no compromise at all. Let the Bush cuts expire. Let the sequester kick in. Let the debt ceiling expire and hold Boehner accountable for that.

[nadinbrzezinski]

41. Yup, wish I could recommend this post

[ljm2002]

50. Compromise is fine...

...if it is done between two rational entities.

With the rabid right, which is now 90% (at least) of the Republican lawmakers in Congress, it is not possible to compromise, only to capitulate. That is because THEY refuse to compromise at all.

No thanks. It is far past time to give these people the proverbial / metaphorical knuckle sandwich. They have earned it and it is the ONLY way to even get their attention.

Trying to compromise with the wackos is not a winning strategy. And yes I feel perfectly comfortable referring to the Republicans in Congress as, by and large, wackos. Until they start denouncing their rabid fringe elements, and start actually considering some compromise from their own rigid positions, they will continue to be wackos in my book.

[BlueStreak]

52. I don't think 90% of the Repiblicans are wackos. They were just willing to act that way

if that meant Obama would capitulate to them. Time to play hardball and sort out who is truly a wacko and who is just a good negotiator.

[nadinbrzezinski]

57. Yup.

[ljm2002]

77. If our lawmakers are willing to ACT like wackos...

...then they ARE wackos.

These people hold powerful and important positions in our society. If they are NOT wackos but are willing to ACT like they ARE wackos then they are even more craven and irresponsible than I already think they are.

[BlueStreak]

80. They are beholden to a particular agenda. Acting like a wacko is a means to the end.

And it worked for them for 4 years.

They are not insane. They are bought.

A few certainly are real wackos. And if the plutucrats told the truth, they disdain the "legitimate wackos" as much as we do.

[ljm2002]

93. "Acting like a wacko is a means to the end"

Indeed. But if they choose to employ that tactic, then they can't complain when they are called wackos for behaving as such.

And it is very surprising that people on our side of the aisle would object to such a relatively mild, descriptive term tossed in their direction.

[nadinbrzezinski]

100. What I object to, is the creation of the other

Don't care what partisan base does it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

56. So you think every republican is less than human

And should be committed? You are part of the problem. Don't worry, they believe the exact same thing about you.

I know it's scary, but not every republican is like West, or for that matter Cantor, or Norqist.

Sorry, in the real world we actually need to support the efforts of one group within the arty to either retake control. Or form a third party...and this talk ain't gonna help.

Believe it or not we share the same country.

Sore winners are not helpful either.

[RepublicansRZombies]

60. Then they need to take back their party and come up with some real ideas

We certainly don't need to compromise with the current crop of evil doers and their followers.

I don't know if you were paying attention, but THEY HAVE NO IDEAS.

They aren't interested in fixing anything- they just want more more more! It's mine mine mine!!!

They are acting like three year olds.

They need a time out.

WE need to ignore their whining and crying and do what is right for the country.

[nadinbrzezinski]

67. That is your prerogative

And the civil war is in full swing.

My prerogative is to not dehumanized them even if I deeply disagree with them.

Sadly though, when all s sad and done the adults will actually sit down at a round table and...compromise.

[Zoeisright]

84. Completely wrong, as usual.

There are no adults among the repuke leadership. Your posts are so incredibly naive.

[nadinbrzezinski]

89. Of course

So what would you refer a circle jerk of stamping feet and not getting anything done for the next two years? No, this thinking is naive and reflects a very poor understanding of how the political system works and what it requires to function.

Sorry, I live in reality, not in pure partisan land.

Your thinking is incredibly naive. You'll see, at the end of the day...there will be compromise. I would keep my eye to make sure blue dogs and other democrats don't give up in the safety net, but like it or not...there will be compromise. You'll see.

[GoneOffShore]

95. +1 Naivete is more of a problem in that it leads to over-compromising.

And thinking that the "other side of the aisle" has good intentions.

They want to drag the country back to the 15th century.

[nadinbrzezinski]

97. Since I said in the OP that there are certain things

That are not to be trifled with, you go on in building this great straw man.

[ljm2002]

78. Talk about putting words in someone's mouth...

...that is not what I said, it is not what I think, and nothing I said implies that.

Please re-read this phrase: "90% (at least) of the Republican lawmakers in Congress"

I specifically limited my remarks to Republican lawmakers in Congress, not all Republicans, many of whom I know and have worked with in the course of my career, and most of whom -- just like most Democrats -- are fine and decent people in their own lives.

Calling someone a wacko politically does not say they are less than human nor does it imply they should be committed. It just describes their political positions. In this case I submit that calling most of our Republican lawmakers in Congress "wackos" is simply an accurate description of their behavior.

To the original point, no we should not compromise with these wackos until and unless they come to the table recognizing the changed political environment. Which, sadly, is not bloody likely.

[nadinbrzezinski]

81. Stamping feet is not what the vote was about

But you go on.

Have a god day.

[ljm2002]

94. Look, we all get to decide what we think the vote was about...

...you do, and so do I. I am not against compromise. I do not listen to shows that mostly engage in anger and name-calling and I do agree it is for the most part counter-productive.

But here on DU we are engaging in political discussion. If "wacko" is the worst thing thrown in the direction of the Republican party then they are getting better than they deserve.

Perhaps I should search for a more descriptive term. I've got it: bought-and-paid-for, self-interested, intransigent bastards.

There, is that better?

[nadinbrzezinski]

99. Well, that s somewhat of an improvement I s'pose.

[ljm2002]

104. :-) n/t

[ljm2002]

59. Can you please cite an example of "sore winners"??

I'm not sure I understand just who / what you are addressing here.

As to the rest of your post, sure, compromise is built into the system. That's one reason that Congress is so broken right now, namely, ONE side of the aisle has rejected any compromise out-of-hand. And the OTHER side has often, sadly, capitulated.

Personally I'm in the mood to see some bare-knuckles knock-down drag-out fights in Congress. Metaphorically speaking, of course. But I do NOT want our side going out of their way to compromise with the extremists who have taken over the Republican party, and I think that sending "compromise" signals is the wrong strategy to start with. If that makes me a "sore winner", so be it.

[nadinbrzezinski]

63. Examples are rife

And as to this...there will be the c word. It is making sure some people don't give up the store.

Our side forgot how to negotiate and they forgot compromise.

But serious, this site is full f my way or highway thinking. With some things, read the list, there is none...after that we need to compromise and stop this enemy talk.

[Generic Other]

73. Look where compromising brought us in the 19th century.

Civil War.

[nadinbrzezinski]

75. Actually it was lack of compromise

And a dysfunction of Government that directly led to it, 1850s, though indirectly I know what you speak. Our current condition is pretty close to the 1850s, including a non functional national party.

I don't think we have the equivalent of the compromise in the 1820s though, but we seem to be moving towards hot civil war.

Personally I am not looking forwards to it.

That sad, you don't like compromise? Perhaps a parliamentary system is more to your liking. They have a little more wiggle room. We need to rewrite the constitution, bright side, multiple party system and...coalitions.

[Generic Other]

102. I compromised years of raises

I compromised years of peace.

I compromised a stable economy.

I compromised fixing roads and bridges.

I compromised repairing old schools and hiring more teachers.

I compromised my healthcare.

I compromised my sense of security and freedom.

How did they compromise?

[nadinbrzezinski]

105. I am not saying to look forwards

And a lot of that needs to change, federal minimum wage should be replaced by federal living wage...that be around 20 dollars an hour.

But you did not, the political class did.

Care to keep feet to fire?

That said, the system we live in demands compromise to work, don't like it, look for a way to change it.

I guess I will e accused of being a rightie for actually understanding this, and it s basic politics.

I do not have the luxury of partisan glasses, and my personal political ideology is not just to te left of Obama, but probably to the left of most posters here. There is a rising democratic majority, time to pull the country back to the center, then the pull left can come. I realize this. I won't see the results, my nephews will.

[RepublicansRZombies]

103. We sat down at the table with them before and they took ALL the cookies

Now the pile of cookies is sitting right beside them, yet they are pointing the finger at us saying we took them all.

You want to negotiate to take one of the cookies back.

I think we should act like adults, and discipline the egomaniac self centered immature three year olds.

They need to be shamed for their absurd hypocritical behavior.

I did not say they were not human. No one is calling them 'the other'

I am saying they are too immature and self absorbed to be allowed to make decisions on what is best for our country.

They have proven that.

And we need the cookies back so we can share them with everyone.

[nadinbrzezinski]

107. Cartoons are lovely

Try your hand at putting this in cartoon form.

[GoneOffShore]

115. Well said.

But your words are falling on deaf ears.

[zappaman]

116. Not deaf ears

Just ears filled with know-it-all-ism.

[GoneOffShore]

117. There is that. And something that has been noted many times.

I'm just waiting for an "Indigo Moment" and then, like Ouroboros, all will disappear.

[zappaman]

119. I think you've made the Iggy list!!!

[nadinbrzezinski]

121. You are off shore

So quite honestly if the worst happens you won't have to worry about the high speed lead. That is what this thinking risks.

[GoneOffShore]

122. ....

Hate to revert to smilies but in some cases it just makes it better.

[nadinbrzezinski]

123. Do as you wish

but you are STILL OFF SHORE.

[GoneOffShore]

124. Clever.

And you just keep typing at your salad spinner keyboard.

[nadinbrzezinski]

125. When people cannot disagree in an agreable manner, it is time to

say good bye.

At least for this thread.

Have a magnificent day.

[RepublicansRZombies]

65. I'm willing to compromise with the right, if they are truly conservative & protect the Constitution

Return to the tax rates of Eisenhower in order to pay for their war on terror.

It is not conservative, nor fiscally responsible, to put two wars and two big government programs on the credit card while giving yourself a tax cut.

There cannot be one Republican that actually thinks that is good for the country. That is NOT how they run their finances.

If only they would think, but they don't.

How are we supposed to compromise with that?

They care oh so much about the Constitution they have to do away with Obamacare!

Why don't they:

End illegal spying.

End Homeland Security.

End the TSA

End the Drug War

Where are the Republicans that are not complete and utter hypocrites? I'll compromise with them....

[Bake]

71. If their version of compromise means we bend over and give them whatever THEY want, screw it.

But if they're willing to be reasonable, I am too.

Bake

[nadinbrzezinski]

72. I am thinking reasonable

After some serious feet slamming.

[argiel1234]

101. compromising with sociopaths and racists is called capitulation

Democrats and President Obama need stand up to sociopaths and racists.

Its that simple


They fucking lost the White House

They fucking lost the Senate

And they "won" the House by gerrymandering districts to the extreme along with Koch money and voted suppression/intimidation



In other words they fucking lost, their extreme hateful greedy ideology lost, and there is no reason to compromise with them


Obama hold ALL the cards right now.

[nadinbrzezinski]

106. Yup, because we all know this is how working

Political systems truly function.

By the way the other side agrees with you...cartoon image and all

Now re-read the op and carefully try to digest what the mandate is on...will help you

Social security and Medicare have to be preserved, even strengthened
Taxes on the rich will happen
Civil rights are not up to negotiation.

Those are the mandate items. After that, sorry, the people also voted for a functional government, that means the c word.

[argiel1234]

108. The problem is

SS and Medicare/Medicaid/Food Stamps, etc wont be preserved. They will be served up on a platter for compromise and negotiation. Taxes on the rich will NOT be a part of the compromise, and civil rights will continue to be eroded with the prison/police state/war on drugs complex


The repukes fucking gerrymandered districts and took massive amounts of Koch $ to hold the house.


Would you compromise someone who held your dog hostage?

Would you compromise with someone who just slapped you and asked if you wanted more?

Would you compromise with someone who just ripped off your purse on the street?



Fuck that shit. No one is buying that fucking shit anymore

[nadinbrzezinski]

109. Go and tell this to the political class

Preemptively even.

But seriously, one of the things people voted for was less insanity in DC and a tad more cooperation.

I will be with you fighting the gutting of the safety net. I will not join you where actual compromise needs to happen, like stopping a few Pentagon programs that shockingly not even DOD wants.

[Johonny]

118. I agree, if all you have is a switch that goes down

you don't have a policy or a plan you have fanaticism or a fetish. See Grover Grover Norquist. So I think it is obvious that compromise with political fraction is likely. I don't think liberals think say tax policy is soak the rich, the democratic tax policy is to have a sound progressive tax system. However there are sound times to cut taxes and to raise taxes. Now is not a horrible time to raise taxes. Obama has placed a compromise tax plan to the American people. It isn't a plan to compromise FROM it is the the compromise.

The democratic parties compromise on women's health is safe, legal, rare of the Clinton era.

I think DUers fear the word compromise because they see the democratic party platform as a sound compromise platform already. It isn't a lot of air between it and worthless policy. For instance while "Obama care" is a nice start, many see it as valueless as it compromised away single payer options. The art of political compromise is tricky as it is very easy to give away too much and end up with something less than useful. This I think is particularly true in this country where public debate starts from center-right. For example see the fake fiscal cliff fantasy story now occurring in MSM. However if all you can do is argue in one direction... you probably aren't arguing for sound policy. A good governing policy is to constantly adjust to the ever changing world around you. Worrying about being labeled libertarian, authoritarian, conservative or liberal isn't really helpful. Ron Paul is ideologically pure and totally worthless to a functioning government. I personally like Bernie Sanders who does about a good a job of pushing policy and compromising ideals versus public policy.

[nadinbrzezinski]

120. Agreed why I wanted to have this discussion

Democrats have forgotten how to, and republicans don't know how to.

In the end it's out better hope.

As to Obamacare. I am a fan of single payor, no buts...but I hope it evolves like that other worthless program, social security. People forget just how limited that one was on 1935.

[just1voice]

126. (R)epukes are "evil incarnate", they love torture, civilian killing, outing CIA agents, WMD lies...

The list continues...economic destruction, racism, election tampering, global environmental destruction, outsourcing, tax evasion, police brutality...ah I give up.

[nadinbrzezinski]

127. I am sorry, but I cannot ascribe what a few individuals

Who should have faced the legal music, to a party.

Proceed with this thinking.

Moreover, why were they not prosecuted for it? Or you think this Empire thing is just limited to Republicans? If you do, I suggest cracking a book open.